Long Monorail

[PhotoPete]

I am finding the long (20" or 22") rail on my Calumet C400-series view camera to be something of a PITA. Shorter rails are not available from Calumet and I am very reluctant to take a hack saw to the rail, since I may someday want that extra extension and won't be able to get another rail.

Does anyone have advice? Does anyone know of a cheap way to fabricate a replacement rail for this type of camera or have a stash of them squirreled away somewhere?

 

[John Bartley]

I am finding the long (20" or 22") rail on my Calumet C400-series view camera to be something of a PITA. Shorter rails are not available from Calumet and I am very reluctant to take a hack saw to the rail, since I may someday want that extra extension and won't be able to get another rail.

Does anyone have advice? Does anyone know of a cheap way to fabricate a replacement rail for this type of camera or have a stash of them squirreled away somewhere?

My suggestion would be to take the current rail to a machine shop for comparison and have them mill a groove in a chunk of aluminum round stock. As far as I can measure, my CC400 rail is just 11/16" diameter round stock.

cheers

 

[PhotoPete]

Duh. Clearly that solution was to obvious for me to come up with alone.

Thanks, John.

 

[glennfromwy]

I know what you mean. My 19 inch rail is just too much. It would be nice to have one about 10 or 12 inches long.

 

[Troy Ammons]

One option is to sell that camera and upgrade to a Sinar F1 or F2. You can basically add rails and bellows out to the horizon if you want. Very expandable and a great system.